Coin-controlled circuit closer



' Nov.'5, 1929. -A. w. TUCKER 1,734,

COIN CONTROLLED CIRCUIT I CLOSER Filed Sept. 5, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 in E w J A 2 S V V V ,7

INVENTOR A 71. Izaak/e1 BY v L ATTORNEY N 1929- A. w. TUCKER 1,734,838

I COIN CONTROLLED CIRCUIT CLOSER Filed Sept. 5-, 1928 '2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ii i v & h

lIHHI M k w E iii N gi a N H 1 15 N 6 u a *4 A M I P J g INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 5, 1929 UNITED sures PATENT GFFECE anemia, SAN ANTo'N I'o, TEXAS coin-commune oincurr' eraser:

1111311a'zaniiii filed se tenite'r 1928; Serial no: 304,050.

My invention relates to coin controlled circuit closers and has as one of its objects the provision of an automatic circuit closer for controlling an electrical device such as 5 an electric fan arranged within a public toilet or othersmall compartment.- 7

The invention further provides a vcircuit closed wherein a movable contact is actuated and held in circuit closing position by a movable object such as a: -swinging door so that upon insertion of a predetermined coin an lectrical circuit will be'coinpleted as long as the "movable camera is held in circuit closing position.

advantages in mind, the inventionconsists in the novel combinations of elements,'construc= tions and arrangement of parts and opera tions to be hereinafter specifically referred 26 tog-claimed and'illustr'ated in the accompany-t ing drawings, wherein p k Figure 1" is a perspective of a compartnie'nt having my invention installed therein.

Figure 2 is a diagrammatic-view of the electrical circuit embodied in the invention. Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view of the invention. p V Figure 4 is a similar view taken at right HofFig rea Figure 5 a transverse horizontal section takeiicn line 5 5 er Figure 3. a

l R'ferri'ii' to the i "vention in detail, a sub: stantially rectangular casing 5 of increased width at' its lower end to constitute a coin coifipartinent 6' is provided, and/is adapted to be supported one wall ofa compartment adjacent the hinged end of "door 7 as'dis closedin Figure 1; e To support a pair of eooperatingcontacts, a horizontally disposed channel shaped mem= her 8 is supported within the casing and ex tends to the side wall's'thereof as illustrated in Figure 4. At one end the channel shaped member'is formed with a 'fectaiigular tu'bu l'ar guide 9 through which a relatively long non conducting block 10 passes. The'n'on= conducting blocklO is lidableain the channel shaped member an i i y urged? a position whereoneendxplfijecth thiough an With thep'reeeding and other objects and angles "to'Figui-e 3 'and'taken on the line elongated. opening 11 in one of the side walls ofthe casing by-means of a contractile spring 12 having one end securedto an upstanding lug 13 projecting from the upper face of the non=conducting block and its otherend an.-

chored to a clip l limounted upon the inner face of such sidewall. A small non-conduct block-15 is secured within theichannel shaped member at the opposite end wall of thecasiiig; Vertically dispose-d c'oin receive ing'fslots l d are formed in the opposed'vertic'al faces of the non-conducting blocks and a as disclose'din Figure 5 are located in trans-"- To conduct coins into the slots 16, a vertica-lly disposed relativelyfiattubular coin' guide 20 is supported in vertical alineinent with theslots by horizontaljbrackets- 21 extendingfrom therear wall of the casing.

the top wall of the casingand communicates witha coin-entrance. slot 22.

To conduct electrical'ienergy to the 'conduc tor-strips to complete an electrical circuit to a fan 23 or other electrical device supported within thecompartment, the following circuit is provided: Feed wires 24 from the usual house circuit or other supplysource are brought into the upper end of the casing,

The upper'endof this coin guideext'ends to g l through an opening 25 in one of the side walls I thereof. These'lead wires are connected to bindingposts 26' carried by an insulating] block 27 supported within the casing. A conmotor 28 connects the binding posts26 and the bindingpost 19 on the movable block. Conductors 29, one of, which is connected es o with one of the binding po'sts 26 and the bindf ing post'19'carriedby theblock- 1-5 pass from the casing through theopening 25 and are electrically connected with the fan 23" To shift the movable block 10 inwardly to abut the block 15, an angle plate projects from the inner face of the door 7 at its hinged end in the path of the projecting end of the movable'block. It will be observed that when therdoor assumes a closed position, the angle plate will strike the movable block to move it inwardly and retain it in this position as long as the door remains closed. While the blocks 10 and 15 are in abutting relation as stated, a coin dropped into the slots 16 will be held between the blocks. However, upon the return of the movable block to normal' position, the coin will fall into the coin compartment by wayof an opening 18 in the bottom of the channel shaped member.

For the purpose of gaining accessto the coin compartment, the frontwall of the lower part of the casing is provided with a vertically movable sliding doorBl held between vertically extending guides 32 upon the innerrfaces of the side Walls of the casing and. the side edges. of the front wall of the latter.* Afinger engaging lip 33 isprovided on the upper end of thedoor whereby the latter israised and lowered, A'conventional lock 34 is associated with the front wall of the casing'to prevent the unauthorized open ing ofthelatter.

In order to gain access to the circuit closing mechanism, a second vertically movable slidable door 35 is mounted between parallel guides 36and adjacent sideiedg es of the easing front wall above the coin compartment.

A-grasping knob 37 projects from the inner faceof the door 35-by means of which'this door may. be raised and loweredby the in-- sertion ofthe human hand into the casing through. the coin compartment.

In practise, one entering the compartment who desires "to make use of the fan, places a coin of'predetermined valueinto the slot 22. As the .coin' falls into-the slots 16 of in abutti'ng'r'elation itcontacts with the contact strips 18 and completes theele'ctrical circuit to thefan. However,;whilemy disclosure sets-forth an electric-fam'this is merely illustrative asthe invention'contemplates the use ofany other desired electrical device in lieu of the fan. I r e WVhat is claimed is: r a

1 In combination, a compartment having a hinged door, a casing" supported within the compartment, normally separated fixed and movable contacts in the casing, and 'me'ans" operable-by closing ofthe door to actuate the movable contact to a position where both'of such contacts willbe engaged; by a: coin in} serted into the casmg' to complete an electrical c1-rcu1t.

' 5 2. In a circuit closer, a casing, anon-conducting block havinga Zoom slot n its inner face, a longitudinally movable non-conducting block arranged in horizontal alinement with the first mentioned block and also havmg a com slot 1n 1ts inner face, means nor- .mally urging the longitudinally movable mally urging the longitudinally movablev block away from the first mentioned block, contact strips held in the coin slots to be engagedby. alcoin received in the slots to establish an electrical connection when the movable block is held against the first men'- tioned block, and .a coinguidearranged'in the'casing above the blocks. c

4. In a coin controlled circuit closer, a casing having an opening in one side, normally spaced contacts arranged in the casing and:

one of which being movable towards and away from the other and having one end projecting through the opening, and means engageable with the projecting end of themovable contact for moving the same towards the fixed contact} toengage and hold a coin therebetween and thus complete an electrical circuit. q V

5. In a circuit ,c'loser,-a casing, apair of cooperating fixed {and movablebljocks supported in transverse alinement within the casing and having upwardly diverging slots in" their opposed faces, contact strips arranged upon the rear walls of the. slots,a.

spring normally urging the movable block,

away from ,thefixedblock, means for moving the movable block towards thenfixed block and; holdingji't in aposition where a coin will be held intheislots therein-to complete an, electrical stripsrv. m a

l6a- In a-eimuit closer, a. casing, a 'pair of cooperating fixed and ;,m ovable blocks supported intransverse alinement. within the casing and having upwardlydiverging slots in their opposed faces, contactstrips. are ranged upon. the rear walls of jthe islots, a

circuit-through the contact spring normallyurgingthe movable block away from the fixed block, means for moving the movable block towardsthe; fixed block and holdingit. Vin aiposition. where a coinj'will be held in the slots thereinto complete an electrical circuit through the contact strips,

andia coin guide in the "casing and arranged to direct COlIlSi1I ltO"tl-18 slots. Y 7; In a circuit vcloser,'a cas1ng,.-.a. pairof cooperating fixed and movable v blocks supported in transverse alinement Within the casing and having upwardly diverging slots in their opposed faces, contact strips arranged upon the rear Walls of the slots, a spring normally urging the 'movable block away from the fixed block, one end of the movable block normally projecting from one side of the casing, and a swingin stop engageable With the projecting end 0 the movable block to depress the latter against the action of the spring. a

8. In combination a hinged door, a circuit closer supported adjacent the door including normally separated fixed and movable contacts, and means operable by closing of the door to actuate the movable contact to a position Where both of such contacts Will be engaged by a coin deposited between the same to complete an electrical circuit.

ARTHUR W. TUCKER. 

